Students debate future of the Commonwealth

On Friday October 16, the “Commonwealth Conversation” is coming to One Tree Hill College, Auckland, where up to 40 students will produce a video to be presented to Prime Minister John Key on the future of the Commonwealth.
 
The college is inviting five senior pupils from other schools to take part in what One Tree Hill College principal Iva Ropati says will be a “fun and enriching experience”.
 
The Commonwealth is 60 this year and the Royal Commonwealth Society is holding a public consultation on the future of the 53-member association. Events are taking place around the world to stimulate discussion and generate ideas for how to revitalise the Commonwealth for the 21st century.
 
Mr Ropati says young peoples’ views are important in shaping the future role of the Commonwealth, especially as the Commonwealth represents a third of the world’s population, half of which is aged under 25.
 
The Royal Commonwealth Society, Deloitte, Unicef, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, One Tree Hill College and the British High Commission, are working together to make this “Conversation” an opportunity for young people to learn more about the Commonwealth and have a say in its future direction.
 
The students will work together in groups to produce six 40-second presentations. They will decide content, format and be involved in the filming. The footage produced on the day, together with any footage brought along to the event (cameras will be provided), will be included in a five minute video to be presented the following week to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at Parliament.
 
The video will be shown at the beginning of the Wellington Commonwealth Conversation event. Celebrities will be on hand to work alongside the students. To date there has been positive interest from Keisha Castle-Hughes and Jay Reeve.
 
This is ideally suited to students who have an interest in international affairs and offers an exciting challenge that requires an active insight into current affairs and global challenges. Resources can be found at http://www.thecommonwealthconversation.org and www.thecommonwealth.org  and a dedicated Facebook site will be set up at the beginning of the school holidays.
 
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